S&P raises Israel's credit rating

Moshe Kahlon  photo: Amir Cohen, Reuters
Moshe Kahlon photo: Amir Cohen, Reuters

S&P's sovereign rating for Israel now stands at AA- with a stable outlook, the best Israel has ever received.

International credit rating agency S&P announced on Friday that it was upgrading its sovereign rating for Israel to AA-, with a stable outlook. The move follows a visit by the agency's representatives to Israel in July, a period of a year in which its rating outlook for Israel stood at positive. S&P's new rating is the highest Israel has ever received. Two weeks ago, Moody's updated its rating outlook for Israel from stable to positive.

S&P cited Israel's fiscal discipline and a slightly higher than expected economic growth rate as the main reasons for the upgrade. “Although public debt remains relatively high, we now think that fiscal slippages leading to a significant reversal of the debt path are unlikely. This is based on our belief that, absent global trade shocks, Israel’s economic growth outlook will remain solid and allow the government to accommodate pressures coming from social and infrastructure spending, as well as a potential moderate escalation of security risks.”

Israel has managed to reduce its ratio of debt to GDP from 70% to 60% over the past decade. S&P noted as strength of the Israeli economy its competitiveness, growth, and the fact that Israel is a net lender to the world and not a borrower.

S&P also mentions the high credibility of the Bank of Israel, and its cautious and responsible monetary policy.

As risks to the Israel's creditworthiness, S&P mentions “high exposure to external and domestic security risks."

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 5, 2018

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2018

Moshe Kahlon  photo: Amir Cohen, Reuters
Moshe Kahlon photo: Amir Cohen, Reuters
Fitch ratings agency credit: Shutterstock Fitch reaffirms Israel's A rating with negative outlook

The ratings agency said, "The negative outlook reflects rising public debt, domestic political and governance challenges and uncertain prospects for the conflict in Gaza."

Tamar rig credit: PR Sovereign Wealth Fund earned handsome returns in 2024

Israel's Sovereign Wealth Fund, known as the Citizens' Fund, had assets worth about $2 billion at the end of 2024, the Ministry of Finance reports.

Fencing goes up Petah Tikva's Segula neighborhood  credit: NTA Work on Metro to begin in Petah Tikva

The first work on the Tel Aviv Metropolitan underground railways system will begin on the M2 line depot in Petah Tikva.

Startups credit: Shutterstock/NicoElNino IVC-LeumiTech: Tech fund raising jumps 24% in Q1

Israeli privately-held tech companies raised $2.13 billion in the first quarter of 2025, up 24% from the corresponding quarter of 2024, but down 12% from the preceding quarter.

Miri Regev and Yitzhak Rochberger credit: Yediot Ahronot/ Reuven Kapuchinsky and Amit Shabi Ramat Hasharon wants railway station for the Mossad

Ramat Hasharon is pushing for a station in Glilot neat the Mossad headquarters, even though a new station is also planned for Glilot South, 1.6 kilometers away.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credit: Reuven Kastro Police call Netanyahu for testimony as aides arrested

Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein are being held over alleged payments received from Qatar while working in the prime minister's bureau.

Highcon chairperson Shlomo Nimrodi  credit: PR Packaging tech co Highcon winding down

The company, which numbers Benny Landa and JVP among its investors, is laying off most of its workforce, having lost 99.9% of its value since its flotation.

MK Almog Cohen  credit: Danny Shem-Tov, Knesset Spokesperson's Office Netanyahu halts Nevatim airport bill

Legislation mandating construction of an airport at Nevatim, near Beersheva, is ready for final Knesset approval, but the prime minister blocked it after a security cabinet meeting.

Big banks CEOs credit: Oren Dai, Jonthan Bloom and Israel Hadari Israeli banks unveil NIS 3b customer benefits package

The benefits over two years meet the target set by the Bank of Israel to ease the burden for customers, while the banks are reporting record profits.

Eilat's old airport Photo: Shutterstock Building set to begin on former Eilat airport land

2,469 housing units will be built as well as 2,776 hotel rooms, 88,000 square meters of office space and 95,000 square meters of commercial space.

Gas station in Israel credit: Tali Bogdanovsky Gasoline prices in Israel to rise Monday night

The maximum price of government price controlled 95 octane gasoline at self-service pumps in Israel will rise on Monday at midnight April 1, 2025, by NIS 0.08 per liter to NIS 7.31 per liter.

Israeli apartments Credit: Shutterstock Apartments sold and rented

A selection of recent real estate deals in Israel in Givatayim, Ra'anana, Modiin-Maccabim-Reut, Gedera, Kiryat Shemona and Ashkelon.

Fencing goes up Petah Tikva's Segula neighborhood  credit: NTA The Metro is really happening

Although there are skeptics who doubt that the project will ever be realized, there are now enough signs on the ground to indicate that they are probably wrong.

Ben Gurion airport Terminal 1 credit: Shutterstock Ben Gurion airport's Terminal 1 reopens

Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion airport reopened yesterday to domestic flights, while international flights will start using the terminal from Sunday, March 30.

Minister of Interior Moshe Arbel credit: Cadya Levy Interior Minister: There is no deep state in Israel

Minister of Interior Moshe Arbel told the Globes Services conference that civil servants are dedicated employees who serve the public.

Minimum wage credit: Tali Bogdanovsky Minimum wage in Israel to rise next week

The monthly minimum wage in Israel will be revised upwards by 6%.

Twitter Facebook Linkedin RSS Newsletters גלובס Israel Business Conference 2018